Thompson on Hollywood

Netflix and MRC Hit Fincher Reality with 'House of Cards'

News

Surprise. In a much ballyhooed deal that was too good to be true, Netflix and MRC (Media Rights Capital) outbid HBO to stream and finance, respectively, the $100-million production "House of Cards," an American remake of the 1990 hit Brit TV series about a politician's rise to the top. Now on the verge of production, reality intervenes.

By Anne Thompson
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March 7, 2012 6:28 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Ren Klyce Talks Sound and Subways for Fincher's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Features

For David Fincher, the sounds of silence are equally as disturbing as loud noises. This is clearly evident in sound designer Ren Klyce's Oscar-nominated work for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Indeed, the underlying soundscape is a freezing, unsettling horror that perfectly complements the disturbing, graphic imagery.

By Bill Desowitz
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February 22, 2012 1:29 PM
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Oscar Talk: Critics Choice vs. Oscars, Moore Doc Reform and DGA Updates, Rise of 'Dragon Tattoo,' Fall of 'War Horse'

Awards

On this week's Oscar Talk, Kris Tapley and I revisit Thursday night's Critics Choice Movie Awards, and predict whether the Globes and Oscars will repeat the same winners. We update the latest news on Michael Moore's reform of the Oscar Documentary Rules, Pros and Cons, as well the DGA doc nominations and Cinema Eye Honors.

By Anne Thompson
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January 13, 2012 2:11 PM
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American Society of Cinematographers Shuts Out Spielberg's 'War Horse'

Awards

Hollywood's Guild nominees are more indicative of where the Oscar race is heading then the various critics' groups, which serve to put a spotlight on what Academy voters should see, and help start momentum behind certain contenders. But the Guilds actually overlap with Academy voters. Here are the five nominees:

By Anne Thompson
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January 11, 2012 12:10 PM
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Fincher's Serial Killer Trilogy: Girl with Dragon Tattoo Builds on Se7en and Zodiac's Lone Rangers

Features

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" opens this week, marking David Fincher's third obsessive film about an intense hunt for a serial killer. What are Fincher's cinematic fixations when dealing with the pathology of murder?

By Beth Hanna
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December 22, 2011 10:29 AM
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Media Update: Streep vs. Davis Interviews, Fincher, Mara, Pitt and Hill Do Charlie Rose, Masters vs. Damon

Awards

Meryl Streep charmed Morley Safer and viewers on "60 Minutes" (video below) and appears on the cover of Newsweek as the race for Best Actress shifts into high gear. It's hers to lose after 16 nominations and two wins, for "Sophie's Choice" and "Kramer vs. Kramer" lo these many years ago. She tells Safer she gets tired of doing takes over and over, and annoyed when women like Thatcher are described as strong-minded. When are strong men described that way?

By Anne Thompson
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December 20, 2011 4:18 PM
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Review & Round-up: Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Opens A Day Early, December 20

Reviews

"The Social Network'''s Rooney Mara delivers Salander in a smart expertly executed film that takes the time to make clear plot developments and changing dynamics between investigator Blomkvist (well-played by Daniel Craig) and the androgynous punk researcher who has a woman in her bed when he first knocks on her door.

By Anne Thompson
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December 13, 2011 8:01 PM
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Now and Then: With Recent Controversies, Maybe Critics Matter?

News

Something changed this week. As the days passed, each became part of a snowballing narrative about critics that seemed to me to portend a future less than bright. The New York Critics pandered to the Oscar horse race and ended up muffing the whole deal, losing their one chance a year to go out on a limb. AT’s criticism of the latest incarnation of “At the Movies” ignited the usual mixed bag of fury. And now David Denby’s gone and broken Sony’s review embargo on “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”

By Matt Brennan
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December 5, 2011 11:22 AM
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Sony Tries To Keep Review Lid on Fincher's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Reviews

Sony is trying to contain critics who are itching to review David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," which has an official review embargo date of December 13 in advance of its December 21 release. Studios use reviews as marketing fodder, and figure if they screen a film in advance for press, they have the right to demand that the media hold off on tweets, posts and publishing until closer to release.

By Anne Thompson
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December 4, 2011 12:29 PM
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Video: Watch Rooney Mara Turn into Lisbeth Salander

Video

Brit illustrator Kyle Lambert can do amazing things ("with one finger") on his iPad. Check out how he "paints" actress Rooney Mara, then morphs her into her "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" character, Lisbeth Salander.